EUROPEAN UNION figureheads have come under criticism with Dutch MEP Marcel de Graaff accusing leaders of ‘killing democracy’ with the selection process to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission President.

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Mr de Graaff concluded: “I tell you this, democracy is dead when you smother the voice of the opposition, and that is what is happening right now.”

He also noted the redistribution of British MEPs’ seats after Brexit in March 2019.

The Dutch MEP said the European Parliament should actually cut the number of sitting MEPs “by at least 73”, adding it will somewhat help toward the budget blackhole left by Britain’s financial contribution.

At the moment, the European Parliament has 751 sitting MEPs, however, the Constitutional Affairs Committee voted on a proposal to redistribute 27 of the UK’s 73 seats to other countries, while keeping the remaining 46 seats for pan-European electoral lists of future enlargements.